Jen Walshaw | Mum In The Madhouse

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Author name: Jen Walshaw

Mum-in-charge Jen Walshaw runs the UK’s top parenting blog Mum in the Madhouse, and she describes herself as a “fat, feisty and over 50” Northerner. Based in North Yorkshire, she’s mum to young adults and a big believer that family life is messy, creative and fun. In 2009 a double mastectomy gave her the nudge to start blogging; with two boys under three she needed an outlet and a digital scrapbook to capture their chaos.Jen’s posts are a mix of crafts, kid‑friendly recipes and honest parenting, peppered with northern humour. She’s happiest when up to her elbows in tea, fabric and pizza dough – sewing and making homemade gifts – before sneaking off to write about it. As a proud Northerner she warns PRs that a “quick pop down to London” isn’t quick at all. Her blog has earned her a stack of accolades, including the Cision #1 Mummy Blogger title in 2024  and consistently topping Vuelio and Tots100 parenting‑blog charts. Whether she’s advocating for diversity and body neutrality or sharing tales of parenting teens, Jen keeps things chatty, real and refreshingly down‑to‑earth.

Fingerprint Christmas Tree Ornament: Easy DIY with Air Drying Clay

What is not to like about this fingerprint Christmas tree ornament made from air drying clay? Anyone that knows me will tell you I am a big lover of creating Christmas ornaments from air drying clay and that I am also a fan of using both kids and adult fingerprints to create keepsake decorations such as these

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Gifts for People Working from Home: Practical and Thoughtful Ideas They’ll Love

Gifts people working from Home will really love has been updated for 2023. I have been working from home now for 16 years and my husband has also worked from home during lockdown and now I have my eldest Hybrid working so he works from home a couple of days each week. So we put

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How to give your child a global perspective with a summer school

In our vastly interconnected world, it’s more important than ever for our children to develop a rich global perspective. Summer schools are fantastic ways to increase your child’s creativity, empathy and ability to understand diverse issues around the world, as well as giving them an advantage in an international workforce.

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Over 45 Fabulous Firework Craft Ideas

We love fireworks here in the Mad House and there is something about the beautiful colour and bangs that really appeals to me and the boys and also inspires is to have fun and explore our creative side with firework art.  So I have gathered together the best Bonfire Night and Firework Craft Ideas to help

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